Guilin Travel Guide

Guilin, in southern China, is a small city when compared to
bustling metropolises like Beijing or Shanghai, but it is one of
the country's most visited. Guilin means 'forest of Sweet
Osmanthus', courtesy of the large number of Osmanthus trees in the
area. The distinctive limestone karst hills of the region provide a
dramatic backdrop for the city, making it a favourite Chinese
destination for avid photographers.

The hills were formed in tectonic shifts about 200 million years
ago, and limestone sediments thrust up from the sea to form the
unusual hills, caves and stone forests which are so characteristic
of Guilin.

Guilin's two major lakes, Banyan Lake (Rong Hu) and Cedar Lake
(Shan Hu), offer scenic boat trips to view the hills, along with
pagodas, bridges, and centuries-old banyan trees. They are
connected via waterways to other lakes in Guilin as well. Another
popular boat tour travels along the Li River to the town of
Yangshuo.

Guilin is a tourist-oriented city, with all the necessary
amenities for travellers, including comprehensive public transport,
plenty of restaurants, and lots of souvenir shops. The city is
popular with Chinese tourists as well, in part because of the clean
air, but also because the scenery is so splendid.

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